Taxi or private hire car driver licence

Important update about tax checks

From 2 October 2023, the government are introducing a simple tax check that will take place when people renew the following licences:

• taxi and private hire drivers
• booking offices
• scrap metal dealer sites
• mobile or itinerant scrap metal collectors

Find out more and how the changes affect you in our licence tax checks bulletin.

Driving licence

Under the terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 a taxi or private hire car (PHC) driver requires to be licensed.

To apply for a taxi or private hire car driver licence, the applicant will require to have held a full driver’s licence issued under the Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 87(1), throughout the period of 12 months immediately preceding any application.

Please note you are required to submit a copy of the photocard of your DVLA licence with your application form. You may be aware from 8 June 2015 the paper part of your DVLA licence became obsolete and you will need to share your licence information to process the application.

How to share your driving licence information

To process your application we will require to view your personal driving licence information. 

To retrieve an access code for you to detail on your application which will allow us to view your driving information, please visit GOV.UK: View or share driving licence information and follow their step-by-step guidance.

The access code is only valid for 21 days, therefore the application detailing the access code must reach our office prior to the access code expiring.

Should the licence be granted it would be for a maximum of three years, however, a licence may be granted for a shorter period should the Local Government Licensing Panel decide this.

Topographical knowledge test 

Applicants applying for the grant of either a taxi or private hire car driver licence are required to sit and pass a Topographical knowledge test in advance of the application and supporting documents being processed.

In order to sit the Topographical Knowledge Test, applicant will be required to pay in advance fee of £30. This fee is non-refundable upon failing to pass the test. Where an application successfully passes the test, the £30 will be deducted from the taxi/PHC driver application fee.

Three attempts only will be permitted for an applicant to sit the Topographical Knowledge Test and, thereafter, the application form and supporting documents will be returned to the applicant.

Applicants will only be permitted to re-apply and re-sit the Topographical Knowledge Test after a period of six months.

Example of a Street Knowledge Test:

• Mock Street Knowledge Test (PDF 68Kb)
• Mock Street Knowledge Test answers (PDF 68Kb)

In addition, you may wish to note that following changes introduced by the Immigration Act 2016, it is a requirement for all applicants for either a taxi or private hire car driver’s licence to provide evidence of their immigration status proving the right to live and work in the UK in a face-to-face meeting with Licensing staff. Please refer to the application form for a list of acceptable documents to be produced.

There is a minimum period of 28 days consultation on any application and you should take this into account when submitting your form. In the event of observations/objections to the application being received, it may be necessary to refer the application to the Licensing Panel for determination and this process will take longer.

If you wish to submit your application form together with documentary evidence of your immigration status and sit the Street Knowledge Test at the same time, please telephone the Licensing Unit in advance for an appointment.

Please note that in the event of an application being refused, the application fee is non-refundable.

Apply for a licence or renewal

Online via our GLAMIS system

You can also download and print the application form below:

Taxi or private hire car driver licence application (PDF 331Kb)

Licence conditions

• Taxi driver licence conditions (PDF 254Kb)
• Private hire car driver licence conditions (PDF 256Kb)

Vehicle specifications

Taxi or private hire car vehicle specifications (PDF 298Kb)